2B
| NOVEMBER 14, 2012
Election 2012
THE MINER
Charter schools put pressure on local districts
Approved bill could affect Newport, Selkirk BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
COURTESY MAP|WASHINGTON SECRETARY OF STATE
Most of Washington’s counties voted against allowing same-sex marriage, but the measure was approved by 53 percent of voters.
Same-sex couples can say ‘I do’ next month in Washington NEWPORT – After opponents of samesex marriage challenged the Legislature’s vote, the citizens of Washington decidedly said it is okay for same-sex couples to wed. Starting Dec. 6, couples can apply for a marriage license, and a wedding can happen as soon as Dec. 9 after the standard three-day waiting period. After Tuesday’s election, when Maine and Maryland voters also legalized samesex marriage, there are nine states allowing same-sex couples to wed.
Washington currently has 9,904 registered domestic partnerships. Those for partners younger than 62 will be dissolved come July 2014 if they are not married. Washington voters approved Referendum 74 by 53 percent. Opponents officially conceded Thursday, blaming secular voters and a financial disadvantage. Pend Oreille County voters were against the measure, rejecting it 66 to 34 percent. In total, 31 of the state’s 39 counties rejected the measure, but the
population center around Seattle helped it pass. Last session, the state legislature passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. Before the law could take effect in July, voters filed a petition to put it on the November ballot. The measure provides that clergy are not required to perform or recognize any marriage ceremony, and religious organizations are immune from any civil claim for refusing to marry same-sex couples.
NEWPORT – Washington voters approved the creation of 40 charter schools throughout the state, concerning the leaders of local school districts. While the initiative passed statewide 50.82 percent to 49.19 percent, voters in Pend Oreille County voted against it by a narrow margin – 3,293 against and 3,230 in favor. “I am very disappointed that the charter schools bill looks like it will pass,” Selkirk superintendent Nancy Lotze said Friday. “The purpose of the bill is to create a select number of schools that would be exempt from some of the laws and regulations that the existing 295 districts face.” A charter school is funded through taxpayers, like public schools, but is operated by a non-profit agency and is exempt from some state and federal regulations. Instead, they are expected to produce results, set forth in each school’s charter. While an independent group can choose to form a charter school, so can a school district. Spokane School District No. 81 has already said it plans to create
a charter school, the benefit of which is keeping the enrollment within the district and consequently keeping state funding within the district. Newport superintendent Jason Thompson said his district’s homeschool program, LEC, is similar to a charter school, but in a traditional charter school, students attend school daily and they have a special focus, such as math and science or engineering. They can also be project-based instead of using typical assignments and grades. Thompson said the Newport School District will discuss forming a charter school but Lotze said Selkirk will not. “There are scant resources as it is, and our population is not large,” she said. “Dividing a portion of those resources out for a smaller, separate school would not be in the best interests of all Selkirk students. Not only do Selkirk students currently perform above state average in almost every cell of the two state assessments, but our elementary school was also recently awarded a Title 1 Achievement Award for our work in math.” Thompson said charter schools put pressure on public school districts to offer an expanded repertoire. Newport has already expanded its Advanced PlaceSEE SCHOOLS, 3B
Smoke yet to clear on some issues with legalizing marijuana BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – It will take awhile as the state works out the particulars, but as of Dec. 6, marijuana will be legal in Washington state. Initiative 502 passed statewide by more than 300,000 votes, 55 to 45 percent. Pend Oreille County voters were split 51 to 49 percent, with the majority against legalization. The initiative makes it legal for adults 21 and older to possess an ounce of weed – about 28 grams – and it sets limits on driving under the influence. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. The feds could sue to stop Washington from creating a legal market for marijuana, or arrest growers and sellers. But in recent years federal officials have backed off on enforcing it. At the state level, it will be the Liquor Control Board responsible for regulating the sale, growth and processing of the drug. The board has a year to set those rules. That means it will be legal to possess marijuana and smoke it next month, but there won’t
yet be anywhere to legally buy it. Anyone wanting a toke must do so in private, according to the law. Using the drug in public could come with a citation. Medical marijuana laws will essentially remain the same. Some medical users have expressed concern about enforcing a DUI law for marijuana. Under the new law, a concentration of 5 nanograms of THC in a milliliter of blood is the legal limit. Just how many bong hits that constitutes, though, depends on a number of factors: the quality of the weed, tolerance levels, time between smoking and driving, etc. The state is estimating marijuana will be sold for $12 per gram, about the median price at medicinal marijuana dispensaries. The law sets excise taxes amounting to 25 percent of the selling price at each level of production. Those will be rolled into the total retail price. On top of that, buyers will have to pay a sales and use tax. The state is expecting to collect millions in tax revenue. Much like the process for stores
COURTESY MAP|WASHINGTON SECRETARY OF STATE
The measure on marijuana legalization was narrowly voted down in Pend Oreille County, but got 55 percent of the vote statewide.
wanting to sell liquor, there will be an application process for those who want to produce, process or sell marijuana. There’s an initial $250 fee to start that application process, and an annual fee of $1,000 for each license. While possessing dried buds
will be legal, the law also legalizes possession of paraphernalia such as pipes and bongs, 16 ounces of marijuana infused products such as pot brownies, and 72 ounces of liquid products such as hash oil. Weed retailers can’t set up shop within 1,000 feet of a school or
McKenna, Cantwell raise more than $10 million each for campaign County races also report finances BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
OLYMPIA – It costs money to run for county commissioner but it costs a lot more to run for governor and U.S. Senator. Sen. Maria Cantwell ran for re-election to the U.S. Senate. According to the nonpartisan website Opensecrets.org, the two-term Democrat has raised more than $11.7 million for the race and spent more than $9.7 million. Her opponent, Republican Michael Baumgartner, raised less than a tenth as much, at a little over $1 million. He spent $826,458 but did not win against the incumbent. It costs even more to run for
governor. Republican candidate Rob McKenna has raised over $13.72 million and Democratic candidate Jay Inslee, the frontrunner, has raised a little over $12 million. McKenna spent $11.88 million and Inslee spent $11.48 million. Six-term Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers has raised $1.8 million in her bid for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her opponent, Democrat Rich Cowan, has raised $331,833. McMorris Rodgers has spent $1.58 million on the campaign and Cowan has spent $283,971. Republican Joel Kretz won another term in the state House of Representatives. He raised $115,956 and spent $78,126, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. His opponent, Republican Bob Wilson,
has not filed any reports with the Public Disclosure Commission. Among the candidates for county commissioner, Republican Steve Kiss has raised the least. He reports $665 in donations and has spent $3,087 in cash and in kind expenditures, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Laurie Anderson of the Public Disclosure Commission says Kiss does not file electronically, and there have been some problems with his reports. Efforts to contact him to straighten out the reports have not been successful, she said. His opponent, Republican Tim Ibbetson, raised $9,081 and spent $8,060 on the race for the District 3 seat on the county commission. Democrat Diane Wear raised $9,548 and spent $9,161. Her opponent, Republican Karen Skoog, reports raising $8,381 and spend-
ing $7,403. So where do the candidates get the money? In the county commission races, Ibbetson borrowed $4,148 and Wear borrowed $3,215. Ibbetson’s top cash donors included Harriet Ibbetson ($800), Jo Bunney ($250), Ray Bunney ($250), Danny Dawson ($250) and Kari Dawson ($250). Kiss didn’t report any donations. Wear’s top donors included the Pend Oreille County Democrats ($1,505), June Peterson ($500), the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($500) and the Washington State Democratic Central Committee ($500). Skoog’s top cash donors included the Pend Oreille County Republican Committee ($1,600), Jo Bunney ($950), Vilma Biaggi ($500) and David Moses ($300).
park, according to the law. Colorado voters also passed Amendment 64 on Election Day, allowing adults to buy up to an ounce of marijuana, starting Jan. 5. Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana. Washington
voters passed a measure in 1998 with 59 percent approval. Those with a card can possess up to 24 ounces and 15 plants. Oregon, California, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada and New Mexico are other western states that allow medical marijuana.
Fire District 5 levy lid lifted NEWPORT – Voters in Pend Oreille County Fire District 5, which covers the Blueslide, Ruby and Locke area in the middle part of the county, approved a levy lid lift by a vote of 52-38. The measure needed a simple majority to pass, and approval was at 57.78 percent. The vote means the district can collect 40 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. That’s up
from 27 cents previously. It means the district’s share of property taxes will increase to about $80 a year on a home assessed at $200,000. The money would be used for general maintenance and operations, to purchase things such as fuel and oil, fire chief Jay Foster said. District 5 covers the Blueslide, Ruby and Locke areas.
Sacheen Lake sewer M&O passes NEWPORT – Voters in the Sacheen Sewer and Water District approved a one-year, $60,545 levy 169 votes to 86. That’s 66.27 percent to 33.73 percent. The measure needed 60 percent approval to pass. The money will be assessed at about 85 cents per $1,000 as-
sessed value. The biggest portion of the money – about $30,000 – will go toward milfoil control, says district secretary Sheila Pearman. The rest will be used for things such as insurance, salary for the district secretary and beaver control.